Exam Period (2)
Exams were always fun aside from the actual studying. Throw in some friends, and you could let your hair down without a worry in the world. In the end, Seo Joo-hwan and the crew burned the midnight oil right up until dawn before finally crashing. Four hours later, Seo Joo-hwan stretched as he woke up and declared,
"Items for the win."
Looking perfectly refreshed, he got up and headed to school. Thanks to the Sweet Sleeping Pill he'd popped before bed, those measly four hours felt like half a day of solid rest. His condition was so pristine that his all-nighter buddies would scream "unfair!" if they knew.
Jealous? Use items yourselves.
Life was unfair like that.
☆Lucky Skebe☆
Effect: Engraves a tattoo for one day, triggering unintended erotic situations.
Note: The tattoo is invisible to others.
As usual after finishing a test subject, the students gathered to compare answers. Maybe it was his class rep title, or because he'd turned in his paper first—either way, they naturally clustered around Seo Joo-hwan, rattling off their responses to piece together the right ones. Moments later, someone yelled,
"This is so unfair!"
It was Yoo Ji-kyeong's voice, brimming with indignation.
"I get it from you, Joo-hwan oppa and Ha-yeon unnie, but Seok-chan oppa too...? I'm disappointed, hyung."
Jang Deok-hoon shot Lee Seok-chan a betrayed glare. Lee Seok-chan just cackled.
"I've never said I suck at studying, dude. If I hadn't come here and gone to business instead, I'd be top of the class without cracking a book."
"That's pure delusion."
"...Do I really gotta hear that from a total otaku?"
Lee Seok-chan muttered in disbelief.
"Unnie, we partied together last night! No way!"
"I've been paying attention in lectures like always."
"Still!"
"Ahaha. Hmm... Yawwwn~."
Jeong Ha-yeon yawned, rubbing her eyes like she was exhausted. Seo Joo-hwan, already knowing those two would ace it, just shrugged. Seok-chan barely studies but still pulls top scores. The guy hated studying, did the bare minimum, crammed last-minute, and somehow nailed it—a textbook deceiver in the eyes of other students. Back before regression, Seo Joo-hwan had thought he was a lucky bastard too. But this life, he was no different in their eyes.
"Joo-hwan oppa, how do you ace tests like that?"
"Class rep's a traitor!"
"Always sleeping or slacking off... So unfair."
Yoo So-jeong and the other Class A students grumbled with clear betrayal.
Jealous? Regress yourselves.
Unable to say that out loud, Seo Joo-hwan just grinned shamelessly.
"Hey, I'm still the class rep, right?"
"Tch. Be honest. You got old exam keys from seniors, didn't you? You're tight with them. Share with me too?"
"I asked, but our department doesn't have any."
Even if they did, he didn't need them—his head was basically a walking archive. Lee Seok-chan called out to him.
"Yo, Joo-hwan, we meeting up today too?"
"Library?"
"Yeah. Tomorrow's test might be rough without cramming."
"Cool. What time?"
"Let's nap at home first, then meet. I'm dying here."
"Got it. You guys coming too?"
"Of course, hyungnim."
"Yeah, I'll come after my shift!"
The five agreed to meet again and parted ways.
Unlike the first day, Seo Joo-hwan's group actually buckled down on days two and three. One day at the library, the next in a department classroom after failing to book a study room. Every time they checked answers, Seo Joo-hwan, Jeong Ha-yeon, and Lee Seok-chan had the highest accuracy. The Publishing Content kids started calling them "old folks who actually study."
Seo Joo-hwan exaggerated a shrug.
"Says the active-duty CSAT takers from last year. Right, Seok-chan?"
Lee Seok-chan shook his head dramatically like a musical actor.
"Just a lame excuse. But we'll let it slide, my pal Joo-hwan. What can ya do about us being so gifted?"
"The talented are always envied. I get it, buddy."
Seo Joo-hwan and Lee Seok-chan linked arms, cackling and spouting nonsense. Jeong Ha-yeon edged away from them.
"Guys, please don't lump me in with these idiots?"
The other students nodded awkwardly. "Unnie's the real cheater anyway."
"Pretty, killer body, model height. And she studies? Kinda hate her."
"But those two oppas are even more annoying now."
"Yeah, hot but total psychos who don't live up to their faces..."
Then someone chimed in.
"Speaking of hot, Deok-hoon's pretty handsome too, right? Kinda rugged, but manly."
"Yeah, sweet personality, all soft and cute."
Jang Deok-hoon, sitting in the corner, perked up his ears. He always said he liked tsundere types, but he was still a hot-blooded twenty-year-old guy craving girls' praise. Another girl added,
"But he's an otaku."
"Not just any—total hardcore weeb."
"He recommended some weird anime to me last time. Fest? Fes... whatever. Ahaha."
Blindsided, Jang Deok-hoon moped and stared at his phone.
"Guess it's just me and Sexver-chan forever..."
"Hang in there, Deok-hoon. Lots of girls like anime too."
Yoo Ji-kyeong patted his back. But now brutally aware of reality, Jang Deok-hoon was ice-cold.
"But she's not gonna be my girlfriend."
"W-Well, yeah."
"Sniff. Whatever, I don't care about real girls anyway."
"...You totally do."
"Sexver-chan..."
The day before the final exam, Seo Joo-hwan drew a bizarre item.
He stared at the star-shaped tattoo on the back of his hand in bewilderment.
"Isn't this just a knockoff of Mongma's Blessing?"
It seemed strictly inferior. Sure, without the blessing it might still work fine, but he couldn't shake the disappointment.
"Tch. Exam week anyway, who cares."
Not every item was useful—some were total duds like Sweet Candy, pure trash in the rare failure pool. Shrugging it off, he headed to school. One more test today, then tomorrow was the last. On the way, the tattoo glowed three times. He got hit by two sudden gusts that flashed girls' panties twice, then face-planted into the massive tits of a busty beauty who burst from an alley.
This might actually be good...
There was no such thing as a bad item.
After the general ed test, Lee Seok-chan said,
"Joo-hwan, let's study at your place today."
"My house? Why?"
"Library booking failed. Classroom was hell yesterday—too annoying just thinking about it."
"Yeah, fair."
The department classroom was way looser than the library. Kids asked around for help, which benefited the clueless more. Seo Joo-hwan's high-scoring group had spent last night half-teaching, half-studying, exhausted. Jeong Ha-yeon got it worst. Lee Seok-chan clucked his tongue at her pitifully.
"Eish. Total nerd."
"W-What? What'd I do?!"
Jeong Ha-yeon flinched guiltily. Lee Seok-chan shook his head.
"You answer every single one? Just give a hint and bail."
"...They're my juniors asking—how can I?"
"That's why you're a nerd. Fake it till you make it. Sigh."
Yoo Ji-kyeong nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, unnie's too nice. Half her looks and no one would dare ask."
"...Ji-kyeong, you throwing shade?"
"Oops, busted."
"I'm getting mad."
"Eek! Pretend you're mad at me—no harm done!"
Yoo Ji-kyeong playfully recoiled, and Jeong Ha-yeon sighed, frowning.
"Not like you guys—I'm not sure how to say no without seeming bitchy. What if they get scared?"
Her nerd level just spiked. Face fierce as Seo Joo-hwan's, but her words were pure timidity—especially with people. He recalled her botched makeup attempt early semester to befriend girls. Lee Seok-chan tsked pityingly.
"Bwoong~shin. That's peak nerd thinking. You don't gotta befriend everyone. Tell 'em to buzz off if they're scared. They'll trash you behind your back anyway."
"...I know logically. I can curse you out fine."
"Crazy bitch. Save it for others. Do ya? Gross."
"You psycho."
Seo Joo-hwan watched, shaking his head silently. I was like that too. Group projects with losers—I'd just do it all solo. It hit close to home. Sure, he'd changed, but pre-regression he was worse than her. Ha-yeon's got some backstory. Opening day? Smoking together, she mentioned rumors calling her a loner slut. Seeing himself in her, he muttered like a sigh,
"Damn. I'm me, and you're you."
"...Huh?"
Jeong Ha-yeon blinked confusedly. Yoo Ji-kyeong nodded knowingly.
"Oh yeah, oppa tutored everyone too."
"No no, that's different. He's just girl-hunting. This nerd's case is separate."
"Dude, who'm I hunting? That's you."
"Guilty as charged."
His calm admission left them speechless. Chatting away, they'd nearly reached the hill's bottom when Seo Joo-hwan peeled off.
"I'm busing it. You guys go on."
"Huh? Your place is close—why bus?"
"We're studying there, right?"
"Yeah?"
He shrugged. "Gotta shop first. Shuttle's faster to downtown."
"Oh, you cooking?"
"Sides are low anyway. Or we can order if you prefer."
"Nah, hold up. Nap first, then hit you at 7."
Lee Seok-chan rubbed sleepy eyes. Tests at 10 a.m. made it morning, but dark circles rimmed their eyes from the all-nighter—except item-blessed Seo Joo-hwan. Hearing he'd cook, Jeong Ha-yeon and Yoo Ji-kyeong licked their lips.
"Real food after ages. Can't wait—holler if you need help."
"Slurp. Oops, drool. If I gain weight, blame oppa."
"See you later, hyungnim."
The four waved excitedly and left. Seo Joo-hwan waved back, joining the shuttle line.
Crowd's insane today.
Yesterday it was empty with folks staying on campus, but nearing exam end, the line was endless. Might not fit everyone. Then the girl right in front turned.
"Joo-hwan oppa? Whoa, it is you!"
"Who? Oh, So-jeong."
"You take the shuttle usually? First time seeing you."
Yoo So-jeong was Publishing Content, same MT group too. He shook his head.
"Nah, heading to market downtown."
"Market? Lol, you sound like my mom. Or dad?"
"Brat, you called me bunny at MT, now daddy?"
"Ahaha. Ha-yeon unnie's too pretty—whaddya do."
The shuttle arrived moments later. And the tattoo on his hand glowed.